Are you remembering to pray for our nation in the 40 Days of Prayer for the US effort. Please pray and then vote.
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The question smacked me full in the face and rung in my ears like a bell.
“When was the last time you were changed by God’s Word?”
The question was not, ‘when was the last time you read God Word?’ nor was it ‘what was the last in-depth Bible study you did?’. It was not even ‘how many in-depth Bible studies have you done?’
No, it was ‘when was the last time you were changed by God’s Word?’
My Tuesday morning small group is doing Beth Moore’s Bible study entitled James: Mercy Triumphs. I have done a gazillion Beth Moore studies. In addition, I’ve also done studies by Priscilla Shirer, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter, and a dozen other authors, but never, has a study gotten all up in my business like this one. I’m talking about wayyyyy up in my business.
James is so focused on mercy toward the poor and oppressed that he is like a bird dog on point, steady as a rock and wavering not. He never lets up on this issue.
So, my answer to the question of when was the last time I was changed by God’s Word is that God’s Word has changed me in the past week. As I have done this study, I have been painfully convicted of my lack of outreach to or association with the poor and yes, my lack of mercy toward those in need. It isn’t that they don’t exist in my little town. They do, in large numbers. It is more that I have insulated myself from them. The old adage ‘out of sight, out of mind’ keeps ringing in my head.
Don’t get me wrong! My family of origin has helped those in need financially and in other ways. When my Daddy died, my mother, sister and I stood in the receiving line at the funeral and heard story after amazing story of things my Daddy did to help others.
“He paid my house payment so I wouldn’t lose my home.”
“He came in my store, purchased a washer and dryer, told me who to deliver it to but warned me not to tell where it came from.”
“He bailed me out of jail when I had no one.”
“He paid my electric bill or grocery bill or some other bill.”
Over and over the stories were told about how my Daddy acted on behalf of others out of mercy in his heart.
My husband and I have helped folks in our community over the years. I sponsor two little girls in Tanzania through Compassion International. The tithe from the sales of my Legacy Bible study and other resource material goes to Wellspring Living to help girls and women escape the sex trade industry. Because of the James Bible study, I am painfully aware of how I need to be more intentional and consistent about using the blessings God has given my husband and me to bless other people. Perhaps that means blessings someone financially. It might mean taking a meal to someone or simply sitting a spell with someone who has lost a loved one. It could be offering a kind word to someone. It could be taking food to the local food pantry. There are so many ways we can reach out to the poor and oppressed. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be an ugly wad of selfishness walking through this world.
God gave us a promise in Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV):
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
God intends for His Word to change us and I can testify that it is doing just that in my life. It is causing me to open my eyes to the poor and oppressed and look for ways to help them.
MEDITATION MOMENT: When was the last you were changed by the Word of God? What were the circumstances? Share a word of testimony with us, dear friend.
